Transcript

Drew Brees On His HOF Career, Almost Unretiring & Backing Up Doug Flutie

From New Heights · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 39 min · 9,178 words · 171 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Drew Brees On His HOF Career, Almost Unretiring & Backing Up Doug Flutie", an episode of New Heights published February 16, 2026 (39 min, about 9,178 words). It mentions 29 people, works and ideas, including Drew Brees, Hall of Fame, New Orleans, NFL, Shawn Payton.

What this episode is about

Drew Brees reflects on his Hall of Fame induction, career highlights, and near-retirement decisions, while sharing personal moments and the unexpected surprise of being welcomed by Dan Fouts. The discussion covers his record-breaking longevity, championships, and the journey to becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Key takeaways

  • Hall-of-Fame gut punch: the moment you realize a lifelong pursuit lands you beside Dan Fouts, yet you still remember your kids' dinner plans.
  • Walk-on grit to first-ballot glory flips the script on ‘deserved’—unseen effort outshines flash and fame.
  • Saints fixation vs Chargers roots: legacy isn’t just teams won, it’s where you’re remembered most by the hall.
  • The class energy matters: every inductee elevates the same scene, making the ceremony feel unfinished without everyone.
  • Behind the glamour: the bust photo, introductions, and tears reveal the real trophy—family, love, and a career worth celebrating.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Hall of Fame, Steven Fouts, Drew Brees, NFL
  2. – 10:00: Larry Fitzgerald, Super Bowl, Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees
  3. – 15:00: Steve Graham, Antonio Gates, San Diego
  4. – 20:00: San Diego, Hall of Fame, New Orleans, Steve Graham
  5. – 25:00: New Orleans, Chase Daniel, NFL, Shawn Payton
  6. – 30:00: New Orleans, Shawn Payton, Jessica Nix, Free Will
  7. – 35:00: Bo Nicks, New Orleans, NFL, Zach Thomas
  8. – 39:09: San Diego, Steve Graham, Super Bowl, Miami Dolphins

Notable quotes from "Drew Brees On His HOF Career, Almost Unretiring & Backing Up Doug Flutie"

  • Thank you. I guess we got to start with the Hall of Fame. It just happened.
    about Hall of Fame · at
  • That moment and just everything that's transpired and I immediately look at my family and I mean honestly I played so much longer than I ever thought I would and in many cases I did it because I wanted my kids to remember what dad did.
    about Drew Brees · at
  • Hey, we'll get you a double on Aaron Donald over here real quick. no, that was so like my first Pro Bowl touchdown pass was Larry Fitzgerald.
    about Larry Fitzgerald · at
  • Is stupid that he probably will hate that I say this, the James Harrison interception in the Super Bowl.
    about Super Bowl · at
  • Honestly, the most unfortunate thing and literally when I say like Jimmy and I cried on the phone together when we traded him, cried on the phone together.
    about Steve Graham · at
  • I know. I love Chase. Chase lives down the street from me in San Diego right now. I got to bust Chase balls. I think the last stat I saw, the most money earned per snap in the NFL than.
    about San Diego · at
  • And then on the flip side, you got New Orleans, right? Six months post Katrina, some unknown head coach named Shawn Payeyton, right? Who is this guy? Right?
    about Shawn Payton · at
  • Man, this is so much bigger than just football. we get to be a part of one of, the resurrection of one of America's greatest cities. this is God's calling in our life. And so that was the determining fact.
    about New Orleans · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Drew Brees — Person · Main guest · 2 mentions · first at
    The episode centers on Drew Brees' Hall of Fame induction and a deep retrospective of his NFL career, including the Chargers-to-Saints transition, key teammates, and coaching under Sean Payton.
  • Shawn Payton — Person · Referenced expert · 2 mentions · first at
    Discussed as the pivotal head coach who recruited Brees to New Orleans post-Katrina and as an offensive architect and leadership influence throughout Brees' Saints tenure.
  • Steve Graham — Person · Referenced teammate / core topic example · 5 mentions · first at
    Used as a central example of how the tight end position evolved (basketball-to-NFL pipeline) and of Brees' chemistry with elite pass-catchers in New Orleans.
  • Larry Fitzgerald — Person · Referenced peer (Hall of Fame classmate) · 6 mentions · first at
    Appears as a fellow Hall of Fame inductee and as a player Brees bonded with through Pro Bowls; used to illustrate elite effort and memorable Super Bowl moments.
  • Chase Daniel — Person · Referenced example (QB preparation / veteran backup) · 3 mentions · first at
    Used to illustrate the value of veteran backups in developing young quarterbacks (e.g., Carson Wentz) and discussed humorously for career earnings efficiency.
    I know. I love Chase. Chase lives down the street from me in San Diego right now. I got to bust Chase balls. I think the last stat I saw, the most money earned per snap in the NFL than.
  • Steven Fouts — Person · Referenced peer / Hall of Fame messenger · 2 mentions · first at
    He is the Hall of Famer who delivers Brees' gold-jacket surprise and is discussed as a Chargers legend connected to Brees' early NFL period.
    Dan Fouts, that's how you found out.
  • Luke Kuechly — Person · Referenced peer (Hall of Fame classmate / opponent) · 2 mentions · first at
    Discussed as an elite defensive opponent who forced Brees to elevate his play; also mentioned as part of the Hall of Fame class and a division rival.
    You're going in with a division rival, Luke Keequley. Did he give you as many headaches as he did to me trying to figure he would calling out our plays like I'm like what are you stealing.
  • Doug Flutie — Person · Referenced mentor figure · 1 mention · first at
    Presented as a formative influence on Brees' early development in San Diego, shaping timing, anticipation, and improvisational style.
    Second round to back up Doug Fluty, which was the best thing that ever could have happened to me cuz Doug Fluty was my style of quarterback. We were both undersized, right? He…
  • Antonio Gates — Person · Referenced exemplar (tight end evolution) · 3 mentions · first at
    Cited as a revolutionary tight end archetype (basketball background) and as part of the lineage leading to Jimmy Graham and modern mismatch usage.
    Man. Oh man. dude, you played with some [ __ ] legends in the tight end room. Obviously, Antonio, Jimmy Graham, the years that I was turning into a tight end in college were…
  • Bo Nicks — Person · Referenced teammate (offensive line) · 2 mentions · first at
    Highlighted as a dominant guard paired with Jahri Evans; Brees tells a leadership story about protecting Nicks in the huddle.
    Well, it was him and Carl Nicks. Both of those guys.
  • Zach Thomas — Person · Referenced opponent (welcome-to-NFL moment) · 2 mentions · first at
    Brees describes being hit hardest by Zach Thomas as his defining 'welcome to the NFL' moment, anchoring a vivid early-career story.
    Oh, dude. I'll tell you the hardest I've ever been hit was Zack Thomas, 2003 in Miami. Again, one of these like trauma moments. -huh.
  • George W. Bush — Person · Referenced teammate (roster move catalyst) · 1 mention · first at
    His trade to the Miami Dolphins during the 2011 lockout is described as the trigger for Brees pushing Sean Payton to acquire Darren Sproles.
    Day. And he was having a little riff with the Chargers and I was If we're trading Reggie, we have to get this guy. So sure enough, that happens.
  • Jessica Nix — Person · Referenced contemporary player (speculative) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in a hypothetical about Brees returning from retirement and later as an example of a fiery coach-player relationship with Sean Payton.
    Know, and we were going to get it, you know. But it was good. it was always just it was wisdom. you see him and Bonix's relationship and see a little bit of the Oh yeah, there's some fire. There's some fire.
  • Philip Rivers — Person · Referenced peer (contextual) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as the quarterback drafted by the Chargers during Brees' tenure, contextualizing organizational decisions and Brees' career uncertainty.
    Kind of team goes to the playoffs. Even though they drafted Philip Rivers, Fluty was still there. Like I was the guy and I had kind of established myself. And then last game of the season in '05.

Companies & orgs

  • NFL — Organization · Primary league context · 3 mentions · first at
    The discussion is anchored in NFL career milestones (awards, Pro Bowls, Super Bowl, Hall of Fame) and broader commentary on quarterback development and organizational patience.
    TWO-TIME NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THE SECOND MOST PASSING YARDS IN NFL HISTORY, SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, SUPER BOWL MVP, AND also now officially a first ballot hall of famer. PLEASE WELCOME DREW BREES.
  • Miami Dolphins — Company · Referenced organization (free agency alternative) · 2 mentions · first at
    Discussed as the near-destination in Brees' 2006 free agency, including extensive medical testing and organizational doubt about his recovery.
    They were running the same offense that we were running like Miami Dolphins. I'm sitting there eating dinner on Wayne Heisinga's yacht. He's there at dinner talking about, Hey, we're going to go we're going to go play golf in Scotland.
  • Purdue — Organization · Referenced background (college) · 2 mentions · first at
    Establishes Brees' origin story as a former walk-on quarterback, reinforcing the 'walk-on to Hall of Famer' arc.
    Our guest today is a former walk-on quarterback from Purdue. He is a five-time allpro, 13 TIME PRO BOWLER, TWO-TIME NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR,.
  • Texas Capital Ranchers — Company · Referenced aside · 1 mention · first at
    Briefly name-dropped in a joking aside; not materially developed in the discussion.

Concepts & topics

  • Free Will — Concept · Incidental mention · 1 mention · first at
    Appears only as a brief phrase about 'free agency' (not philosophical free will), so it is not a substantive topic in this episode.
    [ __ ] kudos, brother. That's a crazy story, though. You went from literally being That's what free agency is like. You get to go on yachts and like get told you get to golf…

Places & events

  • Hall of Fame — Event · Core topic · 6 mentions · first at
    Brees' first-ballot induction is the opening and recurring anchor, including the reveal moment, class camaraderie, and reflections on career meaning.
  • New Orleans — Place · Core setting / referenced location · 9 mentions · first at
    Frames Brees' career-defining move to the Saints and the post-Katrina context, described as a mission larger than football tied to the city's recovery.
  • San Diego — Place · Core setting / referenced location · 7 mentions · first at
    Represents Brees' early NFL career with the Chargers, his devastating shoulder injury, and later personal ties (e.g., Chase Daniel living nearby).
  • Super Bowl — Event · Referenced pinnacle event · 4 mentions · first at
    Used both to frame Brees' achievements (champion/MVP in intro) and to discuss iconic plays involving Larry Fitzgerald and James Harrison.
  • Pro Bowl — Event · Referenced career milestone · 2 mentions · first at
    Serves as the setting for Brees' interactions with peers like Larry Fitzgerald and as a marker of Brees' early validation (first Pro Bowl in 2004).
    Hey, we'll get you a double on Aaron Donald over here real quick. no, that was so like my first Pro Bowl touchdown pass was Larry Fitzgerald.
  • NFL Offensive Player of the Year — Event · Referenced accolade · 1 mention · first at
    Cited (two-time) in the introduction to establish Brees' peak performance and league-wide recognition.
    Quarterback from Purdue. He is a five-time allpro, 13 TIME PRO BOWLER, TWO-TIME NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THE SECOND MOST PASSING YARDS…
  • NFL Comeback Player of the Year — Event · Referenced accolade · 1 mention · first at
    Listed among Brees' career honors in the introduction to emphasize elite achievement and resilience.
    Five-time allpro, 13 TIME PRO BOWLER, TWO-TIME NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THE SECOND MOST PASSING YARDS IN NFL HISTORY, SUPER BOWL…
  • Martin Luther King weekend — Event · Referenced time marker · 1 mention · first at
    Provides the timing and family context for the Hall of Fame surprise, tied to Brees' birthday weekend with his son.
    I know. So I share a birthday with my oldest son, Bon. So he's born on my 30th birthday. So we had a birthday weekend. It's always Martin Luther King weekend. So really the weekend's about him just doing whatever he wants to do.
  • Cincinnati — Place · Referenced location (brief) · 1 mention · first at
    Briefly referenced in passing while discussing time spent with Luke Kuechly after the Hall of Fame announcement.
    About him such an unbelievable competitor but like off the field like the most genuine dude. Like I've spent more time with him over the last 24 hours. Cincinnati like dude players man or somethingincinnat Ohio ball players and my Texas.

Media & podcasts

  • NFL Films — Media · Referenced media presence · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as filming the Hall of Fame reveal moment, underscoring the significance and documentation of the event.
    Was totally elsewhere. So, it was such a it was such a shock and I mean obviously cameras, in NFL films and everything too and then all of a sudden it is it's the rush of…

Full transcript with timestamps

Our guest today is a former walk-on quarterback from Purdue. He is a five-time allpro, 13 TIME PRO BOWLER, TWO-TIME NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THE SECOND MOST PASSING YARDS IN NFL HISTORY, SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, SUPER BOWL MVP, AND also now officially a first ballot hall of famer. PLEASE WELCOME DREW BREES. I made him.

Cheers to that, baby. Drew, you're the man, brother. Thank you so much for coming on.

Thank you. I guess we got to start with the Hall of Fame. It just happened. Yeah, it's fresh.

Dan Fouts, that's how you found out. Yeah. Yeah. He that knock came about three weeks ago. It was a great setup.

Supercharger himself. I know. So I I share a birthday with my oldest son, Bon. So he's born on my 30th birthday. So we we we had a birthday weekend. It's always Martin Luther King weekend. So really the weekend's about him just doing whatever he wants to do. So then Monday rolls around and my daughter who's 11 is like the light of my life. Just says, "Dad, I want to take you out to eat." I'm like, "Oh, nice. Oh, this is the greatest. So, my wife, my daughter, they're ready to go. 5:00, be ready. We're going to take you out to eat. So, I'm ready. And the boys are messing around doing something upstairs.

I'm like, "Boys, let's go." You know, Ryland wants to take dad out to eat. Let's go. And they're messing around. So, now I'm starting to get a little fired up. I'm like, "Yo, Ryland said 5:00. We're leaving the house." I'm like about to get in the car and leave and leave them all, right?

And then all of a sudden, here's the knock at the door. And I'm a little I'm like, "Who's knocking at the door now? We're trying to leave. You know, my daughter set this up. I just want this to be special for her. And then there's Mr. Supercharger Dan Fel himself in the gold jacket. That is

welcoming me into the Hall of Fame. So, it was they had me. It was a good setup.

What What happens when you feel that? Like, do you like think about your career? Like you think about like I don't it's it's got to be crazy in that moment right?

Yeah, it was uh like I said like my mind was totally elsewhere. So, it was such a it was such a shock and I mean obviously cameras, you know, in NFL films and everything too and and then all of a sudden it is it's the rush of emotion and um just thinking about getting to that moment and just everything that's transpired and and I immediately look at my family and I mean honestly I I played so much longer than I ever thought I would and in many cases I did it because I wanted my kids to remember what dad did.

So cool man. And then I'm looking at them and you know I see their eyes welling up and just you know lost it. Awesome, brother. So cool.

Beautiful family. Walk on to Hall of Famer, brother. Not Not many can say that, dog. I only know one that may have a chance.

You shut up. So, what's the process now? Have you already thought about like what picture you're going to use for your bust? Like, are you Who's going to introduce you?

I know who's going to introduce me, but I can't say because I I want to make it special. But, uh, yeah.

Yeah. It's uh, you start thinking about those. I mean, literally each moment since then has has gotten me a little closer to reality. You know, at that time, it's still so surreal and and you just want to pinch yourself and you're not sure if if this is just a dream.

Um, but I'd say yesterday before they announced it at honors, uh, couple hours before all our class of Hall of Famers, you know, got into a room. So, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke, Adam, Yeah. Roger. I mean, they're all Trav, you got to tell we're sitting there. We got a front row seat to the whole thing. Yeah.

And we're we're seeing everybody come out. You're the last one. He taps me on the arm. He's like, "Dude, this is a great class." I'm like, "Yeah, Jason, it's the Hall of Fame."

Did you expect to not know anyone they were saying? But how many first ballot guys? Like, I don't know. It does feel like a special class.

I would say this. I I I don't know the last time you actually went and looked at each class of Hall of Famers since they started doing this,

but literally every class it it's almost like each one is like, "Whoa, that was a great class. Wa. Like that was a great I mean every one of them it it just makes you realize just how elite it is and and I think the the feeling last night after we were called onto the stage and then all the Hall of Famers start metriculating out of the crowd and coming up on stage and I mean it's like this indoctrination like welcome.

Yeah. I mean it's like wow man. So do you go in I know you retire as a certain franchise usually. Do you go into the Hall of Fame as a specific one

organization? Yeah. Oh, I mean it's Saints obviously. THAT WAS the one thing that was so nothing against fouls, but that was a little thing that was surprising to me. Is there like a personal connection there? Like why Chargers and not like a former Saints?

So he was one of the first guys that I spoke with when I was drafted was Dan Fouts. Obviously his legendary status.

Did he tell you to just throw to the biggest guy on the field or what? He had senior.

Exactly. He had like the beginning of like this era of tight end. Oh man, Charlie Joiner and Chandler and um they were they were some dudes, you know, he was he's been great to me um ever since I signed, you know, first signed in in the league and um and obviously a Charger legend. Ironically, that Corell offense was one that we ran when I was first in uh in San Diego. So, there was a connection there, too. So, that was that was pretty unique.

Giving you all the ins and outs, man. That's awesome, dog. You're going in with a division rival, Luke Keequley. Did he give you as many headaches as he did to me trying to figure he would calling out our plays like I'm like what are you stealing this? How are you this good at knowing what we're about to do?

I'll be honest. I I I think again and you never know how the class is going to shake out but but especially Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Keatley. Like I've always had a real special bond with Larry.

He's the best. They funny cuz you know you see each other from afar. I know he was never going to get out of Arizona and I was certainly never going to leave New Orleans. Only time we had a chance to play together was in Pro Bowls. I mean, how awesome are Pro Bowls? You have a chance to be with these guys that you just have so much respect for.

I sure remember you calling out the mic at one of my Pro Bowls. I'm Drew Brees. Yeah, you're wired, man. I only know one way. We're trying to win, too, right? Yeah. I know. Like, where we just take it easy, man. I got I got you got, you know, Lee Ray Lee, let's let's go over here.

Hey, we'll get you a double on Aaron Donald over here real quick. Um, no, that was so like my first Pro Bowl touchdown pass was Larry Fitzgerald. like we we so we've had we've had a bond our whole career and really leaned on each other for a lot of things and then honestly Luke Keequley I

best defensive player I've ever ever played against and he was in the division obviously and like so when I truly say like an iron sharpens iron guys that just make you better like because you have to be like you knew going into that game like I have to be my absolute best against this dude and so he just brought out the best in me and us

and so I really appreciate that that about him such an unbelievable competitor but like off the field like the most genuine dude. Like I've spent more time with him over the last 24 hours. Cincinnati like dude players man or somethingincinnat Ohio ball players and my my Texas gunslinger go.

Texas Capital Ranchers. The biggest surprise with Larry Fitzgerald to me was that he found a pair of corduroy pants that fit him. I mean that thing that he is thick on the bottom half now. Yeah, I guarantee you he can move to the tight end room right now and still go for [ __ ] thousand yards. Solid genetics touchdown. Exactly. Solid genetics.

No, Larry's the man. What I still remember my first college experience was uh Larry Fitzgerald uh playing Notre Dame over in Pit, man.

Yeah. Making freakish catches. Watching him in like uh just like Routes on Air or Pack and Go and I'm just sitting there. I'm like, man, this dude is the [ __ ] man. It was before you could tell it was just like, man, this dude's got it.

But even honestly, the the play that I remember the most from his career, which is stupid that he probably will hate that I say this,

the James Harrison interception in the Super Bowl. Yes. Yes. He is like completely out of the play.

Running out of bounds like over woods and tree trunks and doing anything he can to try and make this tackle. I'm just like, dude, that's amaz like that is the effort and like what makes somebody different like who who is going to give that amount of effort and not just like a special teams guy who's trying has to kind of do that to survive a Hall of Fame level like best receiver of all time.

I actually when when the class was announced I started just reflecting on all the plays that I can remember all these guys making. Obviously that Super Bowl stood out and like we've all had those moments where look you're in a game like that there's a ton of exceptional players on the field. Yes. But then there's those times where like one just rises above the rest and you're just like for this entire game that is the best player on the field. That that game was was was a moment like that where you like that play and then the one where they took the lead at the end before the Steelers went down. It's like two man and he beats the corner inside on like just a little delay route, splits the safeties and gone. You're like

this dude is the best player on the field. It felt like he had he was still young in his career. I mean, he's only like year five maybe, right? 08, something like that. Yeah, he was young.

What a guy, man. So, we did have a potential Hall of Famer come out of RETIREMENT THIS YEAR.

WAS THERE WAS there a call when Boon Knicks went down? You have had to. I would say I've I've had some CONVERSATIONS

AND and I've had some moments. I've had some moments. Um I would say this, like my body feels great. My mind sharp as ever.

Yeah. shoulder, wrist, not having it. And like to the point where there was a moment this year where literally I was drinking a tequila and something happened where I thought there might be a chance I would play that week and I literally switched to water and I started thinking about going to bed early and getting up the next day and like getting my body nice and loose and going out and throwing to see if I could even pull it off.

Yeah. And boy, I was like so mentally right and got up, got the body loose, went out there, grabbed the ball, threw a couple. My my 13-year-old son was catching for me.

Let's go. And it was just like not there. I would I would have been able to like break that glass 10 10 ft away.

You got to take the torid off first. You say, "Yeah, yeah, the good stuff is not in the system. The good stuff is not in the system." But no, I it's honestly Look,

I would I I really think I'd still be playing if if I if the shoulder and the wrist wouldn't have wouldn't have started to let me down. Sure.

Um I just I started to lose quite a bit of pop, you know, and it's one of those things where and you know where to go with the ball, but can I get it from point A to point B and the amount of time that needs to get there in order to be effective and unfortunately

[ __ ] yeah, that left, man. Oh man. Um dude, you played with some [ __ ] legends in the tight end room. Obviously, Antonio, Jimmy Graham, the years that I was turning into a tight end in college were you and Jimmy just going absolutely nuts, man. And that really changed th those years with like Gage, Jimmy being those basketball guys and like really being able to be that mismatch. Then you obviously Granky throwing to the fold. Do you feel that Jimmy I don't know, I don't want to say this the wrong way. I feel like he's never gotten the true respect that he deserves at the tight end position. Like I want to give Jimmy some love because what he's done to change the game, I don't think is talked about enough.

Okay, I agree. And thousand%. Jimmy was so rare. I mean, he was a guy who played four years of basketball in Miami, right? Had a fifth year of eligibility and it was just like, ah, you know, I played a little high school football. I'll go out here, see if I can, you know, run some red zone fades, you know, which I think he caught 11 balls, seven tutties his senior, fifth year, senior year.

And and and at that point, look, I I credit I credit Shawn. I credit our scouting department. Like those guys had a Mac for seeing like some raw talent and but even seeing through that to like this guy once we polish him up and like get him in this system and he's going to be exceptional. So we brought Jimmy in as a third round pick in 2011. We had Shocki be shocking.

That was Tra's favorite growing up. Dude, you already know, man. You want to talk about attitude, man.

Yeah. And we were doing some interesting things for Shock that that honestly like we did with Gates um in in San Diego, but it was kind of like this at any time just displace them, split them out to the single receiver side. We had this whole system of signals, you know, we try to get we try to do it in man situations so we got some favorable matchup and then we just go to town over here right?

Yeah. I can I can relate. That became Jimmy's thing. But man, Jimmy was just a gazelle. He was just kind of he was a deer at first. It was like, man, he could run, but he had sink in his hips. Well, no, no. He he Yeah. He had an edge.

He had something to prove like chip on his shoulder big time. But it was it was a great first year opportunity for him cuz Shocki was the guy and then Jimmy was kind of like the bring him in in certain situations and just bring him along. Oh yeah. And by the time 2011 came around, it was like he was ready. And then that was his breakout year. Yeah, we're literally him and Grock,

bro. You already know that going into that last season though, that last game we were playing Carolina. I can't remember who New England was playing, but they were fighting for I think it was uh most yards by a tight end

and touchdowns and touchdowns. I think they both ended up with over 15 that year. Crazy.

But literally like from drive to drive it was I'd come over the side and be like, "Where's Gone?" Like, "Oh, he's 10 yards ahead. Okay, well let's run this corner to Jimmy, right?" Unfortunately, our game ended first. So Ron got the record, but literally it was one of those like

I wonder if they were doing the same thing. Oh, totally. You know, they're keeping track for sure.

That's the best, man. Um, honestly, the the the most unfortunate thing and literally when I say like Jimmy and I cried on the phone together when we traded him,

cried on the phone together. Um, he was with us for 5 years and could you imagine what five more years would have been like, right?

You know, at at a point where we were just so like the chemistry was so strong right?

You guys created a whole new play. Like there was like the goal line fade and then there was the Jimmy Graham just [ __ ] throw it to him.

This dude would literally just go and post up like in the paint and it was it was like it was a fade but it wasn't a fade. It was more just like a jump ball.

We had five different back shoulders. That's crazy. It's crazy. It was the DB's here back shoulder or I'm just going to stand in front of him and you throw it up. There's the bottom line is if you're 67 270 there is nobody a dude could be standing right next to you there's still a place I can throw the ball to you way different than that 270.

This does bring up something to me that I do want to I have never understood why like why doesn't every team just have one guy that's a monster that is a guaranteed touchdown? Like think about like the tush push, right? It's a guaranteed first down every time you're first. There are so many goal line stands throughout a year that happen inside the five. If you could all every time No, you got a 610. Like just get an NBA guy that wasn't quite good enough in the NBA and just throw him a jump ball. I don't know. Is it Is it harder than Am I making this?

Yes, it's way harder than what you're making it. Are you kidding me? Okay. Well, I don't That's why I'm asking. I'm asking two guys THAT WOULD KNOW.

I DON'T THINK IT LOOKS THAT HARD. And maybe have him rush on kick block, too, so he can be uh you know, got a little special teams value. That's all you need. You just

just bring Shaq out of retirement and throw him the ball. He's still going to catch it, right? But to your point, I I think I think there was like I I think Gates revolutionized the game in a lot of ways. I mean, really before that, you Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, right? These kind of basketball guys that came over and applied a lot of that skill set to what they were doing as as as tight ends. Jimmy was all heart, man. All heart. And I really wish we would have could have had five, seven more years together.

Yeah, I know. I had to show him some love, dog. Yeah. Appreciate that, Trev. So, Hall of Fame, but it wasn't always roses, right? It wasn't always the easiest thing. mentioned earlier, walk-on at Purdue early in your career, like a lot of turmoil coming from the Chargers to the Saints. What was that like? Like a lot of people, you had the injury and you know what's going on with the shoulder, all this stuff. What was that like for you at that moment?

Uh the the injury was devastating in San Diego. Um because I I really thought there was a moment where I thought I wouldn't play football again. Um I mean I I had been through a lot with the Chargers. I got drafted there in the second round to back up Doug Fluty, which was the best thing that ever could have happened to me cuz Doug Fluty was my style of quarterback. We were both undersized, right? He was 5'9 and a half, a buck 80, right? But the guy had played 22 years of professional football,

right? Four different leagues. He was Mahomes before Mahomes from the perspective of like the niftiness making just making it happen outside. And we would do a lot of under center stuff because it was kind of a a bit more pro style, two back, eye back field, running power, running different uh weak lead schemes and the play, right? And and Lorenzo O'Neal as our fullback, right? Lo.

Yeah, babe. And Doug Fluty at times would backpedal a sevenstep drop from under center. When's the last time you saw that? This is This is like Fran Tarkington stuff, you know? But like he was just an old school dude.

Yeah. He did push-ups, situps, ran hills, and played basketball. That was his that was his like strength and conditioning program and just threw the ball. Just played ball. It was he was like backyard ball.

But he was he was the epitome of oh I got to get the ball out a little bit sooner than normal. Just put a little air under it. Right. Throw that little two ball man. Just lay it over the wheel in front of the safety to that end cut before he's out of the great. So like his level of timing and anticipation was second to none. So I learned so much just from observation and watching him. Had a chance to compete against him my second year. won the job and then he backed me up for three years after that. Now I was benched three times in those three years with Marty Shanheimer. Yeah.

The first one I deserved it. The second one kind of the third one I didn't think I deserved it and I was pissed and had a knockdown dragout screaming match with Marty Shanmer on the sideline in December in Pittsburgh and then in the hallway after and then in his office the next day. Holy cow.

And at the end of the day like I I I knew this he Marty was always making decisions that he thought were in the best interest of the team even if I didn't agree with him. But I love the man and he he developed me in so many ways. Character, leadership. Um, but I I I love and respect that man so much. But finally kind of got to the point where through those ups and downs and through that adversity, I earned the starting spot, made my first Pro Bowl in ' 04. Kind of team goes to the playoffs. Even though they drafted Philip Rivers, Fluty was still there. Like I was the guy and I had kind of established myself. And then last game of the season in '05 going into an offseason where I didn't have a contract, but I was hoping to get like that long-term commitment. Yeah.

And I go down with a dislocated throwing shoulder, right? Literally arm stuck like this walking off the field. I get to the sideline, they pop that thing back in, and I'm just going, man, I'm probably never going to put a Charger uniform on again. And it's like, I'm in a play football game. Some doctors told me I had a 25% chance of coming back and playing again, man.

So like just absolutely devastating. and yet I mean tested me in so many ways but also I think strengthened just my faith in in in the unseen and unknown that uh you know God's got a plan for me and

that's awesome. It may not be in San Diego and and that's okay. I just have to trust it and that's that's how New Orleans the out New Orleans opportunity

came along. No doubt smooth sailing from there. I uh Dude, do you do you think the the QBs in today's game are are on a real short leash? Does it feel like that or do you think it's fair still that you know you got to you got to show up when when you're called upon?

I think we do most of them a disservice. Um I mean look there's high expectations right and I think it's the coaches are on short leashes. Um you know the the fan bases you know want a winner now.

Yeah. Um I mean you look at Sam Darnold and everything that he's overcome. I think it's it's a highly inspirational you know story and journey.

And there's a few others like that. Baker Mayfield you know um kind of a similar similar situation. I think there's there's so much to play in this position as you know. You know,

that's why I got out of there, DUDE. Former former former Q. Exactly. Always ready for the double pass.

Always whenever. Always ready for the double pass. Like I said, I I don't know if I can get it there anymore, so I'll just l I can still pitch at five yards. I'm good.

Yeah, I I think there's in in most cases too, these high draft picks are going to teams that obviously have have a lot of holes to fill as well. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. And I think who was it? Aman was saying Aman had a a very good a lot of these organizations are failing these QBs more than they're they're failing the organization.

It's true. I mean when you play the game long enough you can pinpoint it. You can see which ones that are, you know, maybe getting that disturbance that you're talking about and others that are just, you know, need to make those strides.

I would say this. I mean, look, I sat for a year behind Fluty. So valuable for me. Mahomes sat for a year behind Alex Smith, I'm sure. So valuable for him. Brady sat for a year behind Bloodstone. Aaron Rogers sat for three years. Jordan Love sat for three years behind him. There is something to sitting for a period of time because you will glean a ton. And then when it is your time, a little more of like feeling like you've earned it, too, you know, and this is my opportunity. I've been preparing for this opportunity. Here we go. As opposed to if you're going to throw a guy in the fire right away, man, there's going to be ups and downs. You just got to be ready for and you got to be patient with it.

No doubt. And I I think it's also like when you go into a room with a guy that's been doing it for a long time. So many of these guys like the coach is one thing, but seeing a player playing the position and how they prepare like I I do remember this vividly when we drafted Carson Wentz.

They purposely went and got Chase Daniels because he was with you in New Orleans and like they were doing he's like showing Carson how you prepared. Yeah.

They like we're going to get in at 6 a.m. We're going to do this. This is how Drew prepared and like all that. Like it's so important to have that perspective of it for some of these young cues as well.

I have I have I have two two theories around when a quarterback's going to be ready. Yeah. Number one is having a a great veteran backup or veteran starter who starts in front of you for a period of time before you then have the opportunity which is kind of what we just talked about. Right.

The second is I think you need roughly 50 highlevel starts before you are really like there and ready. Yeah,

those high level starts could be college. Like plenty of times we've seen this um potential drafted,

but they only had 15 college starts. Well, if that's the case, it's going to take him three years before they're ready. I'm just telling you, right? So then start looking at the guys like Brock Party. Brock Pury a undersized all these things like 50 college starts at Iowa State. So I can tell you most of the times when they stepped foot on the field, they were the underdog. He was having throwing a lot of balls. grabbing a punch well above their fighting weight.

Oklahoma Texas still in the conference everything. So he comes in and you're like, "Okay, he's got some experience like he's got something to him." Hence why maybe this success happened a little bit quicker and he's playing for a really good team with some good players, right? There's some other examples of that. Um but yeah, I I think it's the number of starts really has a lot to do with their readiness. Yeah,

I think to step into that role, too. Okay, I like it. How about a guy Chase Daniels making a hell of a [ __ ] living in the NFL, huh?

Yeah. I know they did. I bust all three of us with him. I know. I love Chase. Chase lives down the street from me in San Diego right now. I got I got to bust Chase balls. I think the last stat I saw, the most money earned per snap in the NFL than any man in history.

I've heard that same stat. I think it's got to be Chase. Well done. Well done. Hacked it. PACKED THE SYSTEM.

HEY, but to his credit, always [ __ ] ready. Always ready. Always prepared. First one in, last one out. Dude, you talk about like chip on the shoulder. I I messed with Chase. I'm like, "Dude,

him and Missou was [ __ ] fun to watch." Him and Jac. Yeah. I was like, I've never seen a quarterback in the NFL shaped like high school nose guard, bro. But you did it, bro. You did it, huh? You made it, huh?

You're here. You did it. That's great. That is great. Chase the best. I love you, Chase.

That's so good. Back to your career. You go from the Chargers and you end up in New Orleans. How, first of all, how close were you to me ending up a Miami Dolph?

Miami. Yeah, close. I I mean on paper like that was a that was an obvious decision. It was Miami all the way. Miami had Nick Sin. They had just come off a nine and seven season where they won like the last seven in a row. So like they they kind of had it figured out. Defense was lights out. Zack Thomas, Jason Taylor. Their offense uh I loved all their coaching staff. Mike Malarkey was the OC. Jason Garrett quarterback coach.

Hudson Hal was our line coach who had been our O line coach the year before when we had won the division. Loved HUD. They were running the same offense that we were running like Miami Dolphins. I'm sitting there eating um dinner on Wayne Heisinga's yacht. He's there at dinner talking about, "Hey, we're going to go we're going to go play golf in Scotland every every uh uh summer with Dan. Um I got out the helicopter over there. We're just going to hop around. No state income tax." I'm like, "Dude, this is wallpaper. Miami, here I come." Right?

And then on the flip side, you got New Orleans, right? Six months post Katrina, some unknown head coach named Shawn Payeyton, right? Who is this guy? Right? And ironically, five years previous when I was being when I was being like in the draft, uh Tom Condan, my agent, I had probably 15 teams that I thought might draft me and he's like, "We're going through that list leading up to draft day." And he's like, "Man, you got all these great possibilities." He's like, "Man, you know, honestly, the only one I would really not want you to go to is the New Orleans Saints." Like kind of dysfunctional party town, this and that.

Like, so I had that ringing in my head as well, right? So, again, on paper, it's like this is so obvious and I'm not leaving anything to chance. I'm going to go and I'm going to give each one like its fair opportunity. And like the Miami trip was amazing with the exception of they put me through the ringer like 6 hours of these this medical testing cuz I I I was only two like eight weeks posttop on an eight-month rehab. So I was nowhere close. I mean my arm, you know, I'm still kind of in a sling, you know, and I can't do anything. And they're they do the uh you know, the saline solution, the contrast MRI. So I'm like in an MRI too for two hours just aching, right? I get out of that.

They stick these big needles in my shoulder to test nerve endings. They're wanting to test everything. So, I just I got this feeling of like doubt like they don't really and and then their doctors were the ones who told Sabin we think he's got a 25% chance of ever coming back and playing again.

Jeez. Holy cow. And I go to New Orleans and it's like you are our guy. Like Shawn Peyton, Mickey Lumis, you're our guy. We're building this offense around you. They did everything they could to kind of roll out the red carpet despite all the circumstances. I mean, New Orleans was still destroyed,

right? Like, and the epic story is Shawn Peyton after this great visit there, gets lost in the Lake View neighborhood and we're we're driving through there and houses are off of foundations, Chevy truck upside down the living room, all of a sudden car stops, there's a tugboat in the middle of the road and I'm looking at my wife like, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" But it was also one of those moments like, man, this is so much bigger than just football. Like, we get to be a part of one of, you know, the resurrection of one of America's greatest cities. Like, this is God's calling in our life. And so that was the determining fact.

There's so much beauty down there that got restored through you guys bringing that happiness to him, man.

[ __ ] kudos, brother. That's a crazy story, though. You went from literally being like, "That's what free agency is like. You get to go on yachts and like

get told you get to golf all over the world with everyone to like sit in an MRI for two hours. That's crazy, man.

You end up with Shawn Payeyton. Yeah. What are your first impressions of Shawn? What was it like to be coached by?

Yeah, I I I would say this. I there were moments and and look this this stayed true for 15 years where I thought Bill Parcels was standing in front of us, you know, really well he was a like I would say look his big biggest influence is John Gruden. Bill Parcels like when he would get up and start installing offensive football, you know, oh through here it was like John Gruden, right? But then when he would get pissed off and like like go try to go toe-to-toe with somebody or challenge somebody or get confrontational, dude, it was parcels, man. Yeah, it was all parcel. Yeah. Like in fact, there were those moments where I could tell he would get up in the team meeting, I could just watch him walk in.

I'd be like, "Ah, [ __ ] He talking one of these." I I could just I could feel it, you know, and we were going to get it, you know. But it was good. I mean, it was always just it was wisdom. you see uh him and uh Bonix's relationship and see a little bit of the

Oh yeah, there's some fire. There's some fire. Both throws it back at him too, dude. Absolutely. And I think Sean appreciates that.

That's what I was going to I was going to say the same thing. We had Howard Mud early in my career in Philly. Oh yeah.

And I felt like he used to sometimes just yell at you to see what your response would be. And I think that sometimes it's like more even mental like he they want that like fire out of a guy. And like if you're willing to answer that, you're willing to stick up for yourself like no coach, I think that this is what you told me and you know what I mean? That goes a little bit with those guys.

What I appreciated so much about Sean was um he had an ability to order the chaos like to to to to block out all the noise and just give you a very key and uh a very defined like keys to victory. Yeah.

And and narrow it down to the point where hey man this is our vision like this is the path to get there and now let's go execute. Um he instilled confidence in guys. He had a way to motivate guys through kind of humor. You know, those coaches just have a knack like um I give an example. It was like we had a safety one time who was getting all kinds of interceptions. Um but um he wanted to bust his balls in practice just to kind of keep him honest. So he's like, "Hey, you know, DB's like he's going to intercept it, but we got to block everybody cuz he's he's slow. He's slow as molasses. He's deep. He's they're going to hawk him before he gets the end zone. So we got to block everybody in order for him to get in."

like he would just make comments like that like just to like just just in case you started, you know, feel pretty good about yourself, you know, like he just keep you honest, hold you accountable, you know. So, he had an act for that. And then I would say just like his open and honesty to you. He was always open door policy. Come see me anytime you want if you want to talk about anything. You may not like what I have to tell you, but I'm always going to be honest with you.

Come on now. So guys, come up there. I'm not happy about my playing time or this and that. He's like, "Okay, well, let me tell you why, but now let me tell you how we can rectify that or how we can fix it, how we can get better than that." And he would give you that path and that vision. And he was amazing at that.

That's awesome. Those are the kind of guys you want to play for, man. I got to ask this too, like very opinionated guy, offensive genius. Shawn Peyton.

Yeah. Hall of Famer, one of the most brilliant minds in the game. Yeah. What was it like game playing with you guys? Like there's like who's are you getting plays? Like how does that go? Was it full trust or were you throwing in your your input on on the Mondays and Tuesdays getting up to the Wednesdays?

I'd say I mean it was very collaborative. Um it's funny. I went back and looked at a 2006 call sheet which was our first year. And this in 2020 I was like hey pull up an 06 call sheet and bro it was like third grade compared to where we had evolved to back in 2020. And a lot of that though was because we had been together so long that it's not like you really eliminate. You just kind of like add little layers to little wrinkles. It's just little wrinkles. His ability just to walk in and be like, "Hey, you remember in 2010 we're playing the Eagles and we're down there in the red zone and it's like, oh yeah, coach, like it's amazing the recall you have. I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, but I can recall a game 15 years ago right in the red zone."

I can recall more of the times that it didn't happen though. So if somebody says, "Oh, because those are the ones I sit there and I think about for the next three days on how to defeat it if I get it again."

Yeah. So those are the ones that just get like implemented in my brain. It's it's trauma. I I've thought about this a lot. It's literally like you have these traumatic experiences on game day because it's either something that was like a disappointment that then just lingered and you just like hyper analyzed for the next week, dude.

Right. Or it was kind of like one of those like a bit of fear and it was like some chemical reaction in your brain that just like seared it in your brain now thinking about this.

Yeah. Yeah. Seriously. Yeah, for sure. Trauma. I like that. Stared at the ceiling. Why did I go left

outside release this? That's all I had to do. No, but you're right there. I wonder what it would be like as a then a young quarterback coming into a system though that was literally like a 15 years worth of you know PhD work to get it to that point

and then all of a sudden it's like kind of having to go back to you know square one cuz we did evolve so much and there was such a level of trust like it got to the point where

I knew what he was going to call when how why right that whole play caller's intent I mean we were just so much on the same page and then the communications on the sideline were awesome like fourth You got a play you like. Hell yeah, coach. I got one. All right, let's go.

Awesome. Hell yeah. The best kind of moments, man. All right, we got to ask you this. We been asking this one a little bit. Fill in the blank.

People forget that blank was a problem. Kind of like somebody that like we already kind of did a little bit with Jimmy, but he's not really that forgotten, I guess.

Yeah. Listen, I'm going to get a plug for my guy Jory Evans. J Evans. J Evans. You know, you got to teach us a little something. Who's this right guard? Yell at me. Top.

I always thought it was Jere Evans, so I'm sorry, Jar. But yes, future Hall of Famer. He was he was in the top 15 this year. You was top 15 last year.

Yes. Like he was Philadelphia native. Philly native. Exactly. Um fivetime allp pro. Like I I think for a a long period of time best guard in football.

Well, it was him and Carl Nicks. Both of those guys. Absolutely. Having those two dudes.

Unbelievable. You want to hear a good Carl Nick story? Please. Please. So we drafted Carl Nicks out of Nebraska like fifth round which I was a steal just like because he was one of the most giant human beings you've ever seen, right? like 6'4, 360 or something. So, we uh we have a bunch of injuries. All of a sudden, he's starting at left guard. This is 08, his rookie year, like week two or three. So, like, dude, he's fish out of water. And we're short now at O line, too, cuz a guy had gotten hurt. So, we're hot practice outside New Orleans. And he's taken every rep, first team, second team. So, he's like 35 consecutive plays in and he's just dragging, sucking air like it's thick outside. And O line coach Doug Marone is just on him, on and on him. And like I'm stepping up into the huddle again to call a play and Carl is just kind of bent over just sucking air. And Marone, just to kind of make a point, he goes

into the huddle to grab Nicks to like, you know, stand him up. And I don't know what came over me, but like I I just have a rule that when I step in the huddle, it's my huddle.

I want all eyes on me. I'm leading this. Yeah. And so when Marone stepped into the huddle, I I I didn't even think about it. I just reacted. I grabbed Doug Marone and I threw him out of the huddle.

Oh my gosh. And I said, "I got him." Yeah. And I looked at Nicks and I was going to kind of help him up and be like, "Come on, big fella. Let's go." You know, 10 more plays, whatever.

Yeah. And Nicks just kind of stood up like boat his chest down. He looked at me. He's like, "Man, nobody's ever going to touch you."

LIKE, "You got my back, boy. I got this for life." Awesome. Holy cow. That's great. And then four years later, highest paid garden football.

That's right. [ __ ] yeah. Unfortunately, it was one with us. It was it went to the Bucks. But

both of those guys together were they were a problem. That's badass. We always end it with uh with one question. We got to take it back to their early days, dog. What was your welcome to the NFL moment?

Oh, dude. I'll tell you the hardest hardest I've ever been hit was Zack Thomas, 2003 in Miami. Again, one of these like trauma moments. Uh-huh.

So, we run we run like this uh this little fake uh counterweak playaction play. You know, the line is slamming it down. Here comes the guard to kick out the end. Back just kind of chipping off the edge out in the flat. And then you have some, you know, exotic down the field route concept. And so, here's Zack Thomas. He reads this guard pull. So, he just kind of comes over here. And I come off this play action fake and my eyes are, you know, trying to look down the field, but I see it was like the parting of the Red Sea. And then it's me and Zack Thomas, but he's like 15 yards away.

Full running and it's zone. It's zone. Zack, you're supposed to be like deep middle or like hook over here,

right? But it's one of those like, oh, nobody's accounting. I see it. And he just starts hauling ass. And it's one of those like, oh no, I I mean like I got time. He's got to take like 15 steps to get to me, right? He closed that gap so fast and I had to cut this ball loose so much earlier than I wanted to. And I just felt like this is going to be bad. And I threw it and just kind of tried to like spin turn.

He hit me so hard like I think I did like a double back flip gainer. Landed on my head. Now they did throw the flag cuz he did. He hit me square in the side of the head.

Yeah. Threw a flag. I underthrow the ball by like 15 yards. It gets picked. Say Madison or Pastor Tan or one of those guys

and but they throw the flag so we get the play. But I was just like, "Oh my god." Like is that how hard these dudes hit?

Yeah. That's crazy. That's amazing. I do want to ask you Darren Sprouls. We didn't talk about him at all.

What was Sproul? I mean, one of my all-time favorite teams. All time favorites. So, first thing I'd say is like, you know, leadership comes in all shapes and sizes.

Oh, I know. And that dude did not have to say a word right? Like, you just watch the way he works and watch the way he approached his craft. Like, every rep was a Super Bowl rep, a full speed rep.

Like, I I love that dude so much. She was my workout partner in San Diego forever, like just in the offseasons. And actually, the story goes 2011 is the lockout year. I start to get the feeling as we're working out that offseason that Reggie's going to get traded, right? And we're all on our own, like we're not back at the facility, so there's a lot of just craziness. And right before the season start, we trade Reggie to the Miami Dolphins. And in the meantime, like I'm calling Shawn Peyton, and I'm like, "We have to get Sprouls." Like I'm sitting here throwing with him every day. And he was having a little riff with the Chargers and I was like,

"If we're trading Reggie, we have to get this guy." So sure enough, that happens. cuz we have him for three years. Like we were together. He was drafted to the San Diego Chargers in ' 05 when I was there.

Okay. So, our running back room was Leanian Tomlinson, Mike the Burner Turner. You remember Mike Turner?

Oh, yeah. Big Mike T. And then and then Darren Sprouls. And Darren Sprouls was our little scat back. But he um he's a generational player.

Hell yeah. I think if you're going to watch like a choice route reel, like how do you just arc release out of the back field, set a linebacker up with a vertical stem, and then break out cross face, hook it up? It used to drive me crazy. We anytime we would get and this is before they started doing like the fiveman fronts with the running zone. Every other time they bit a bare front. It was man covers. I'm like why the hell are we not just throwing it to Darren Sprouls every I'm dead serious. It used to make me mad like nobody's going to guard this dude in space just throw him the ball. Who's going to tackle him? Like I just it used to I was furious.

Here's my other spozy story. We're on a two-minute drive 2013 against the the Niners. That Niners defense was stout. Right. So here you are, Navaro Bowman and Patrick Willis. Okay,

studs. We're kind of approaching midfield. All we need is a field goal. So they start trying to light us up, right?

And I I remember at one occasion, I know it's going to be man and here these two guys are lined up in the A gaps and they're going to hit it. And I know I got Jimmy Graham matched up on the matchup I want, but I also know we're going to have to hold up for a second. So I remember just like looking over at Sprsey. I just be like, it's going to be like, you know, Navaro Bowman. I'm like, "Hey, hey, bro. Just blow up just one time on me here,

please." as he gets in there. He was an underrated blocker, man. Seriously, let this low center of gravity. He was freaking all heart, man. All effort.

I love the dude. Like, he would step up and do that whenever you needed. He was a ST. One of my all-time favorites, man.

Drew, you're the man. Thank you so much, bro. Congratulations, man. Legend, dog.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Drew Brees On His HOF Career, Almost Unretiring & Backing Up Doug Flutie"?

Drew Brees (Guest), Dan Fouts (Guest), Larry Fitzgerald (Guest), Luke Kuechly (Guest), Jimmy Graham (Guest), Chase Daniels (Guest), Carl Nicks (Guest), Doug Marrone (Guest).

What is "Drew Brees On His HOF Career, Almost Unretiring & Backing Up Doug Flutie" about?

Drew Brees reflects on his Hall of Fame induction, career highlights, and near-retirement decisions, while sharing personal moments and the unexpected surprise of being welcomed by Dan Fouts. The discussion covers his record-breaking longevity, championships, and the journey to becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

What is mentioned in this New Heights episode?

29 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Drew Brees, Hall of Fame, New Orleans, NFL, Shawn Payton, San Diego. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Drew Brees On His HOF Career, Almost Unretiring & Backing Up Doug Flutie"?

The episode runs 39 min; the transcript is about 9,178 words in 171 timestamped sections.

More from New Heights

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated October 29, 2026.